Copa Shorts Film Fest Comes to Maricopa-Saturday, Feb. 18-19

Copa Shorts Film Fest Comes to Maricopa-Saturday, Feb. 18-19

by Admin

Copa Shorts Film Fest Comes to Maricopa Saturday, Feb. 18-19

Annual Event Celebrates Best Short Filmmakers & Screenwriters from Around the World, Offers FREE Workshops for Aspiring Filmmakers

What: The lights will dim and the big screen will come alive as movie buffs from across the Valley - along with filmmakers and screenwriters from around the world - gather to honor emerging talent of short films and screenplays at the Copa Shorts Film Fest next Saturday, Feb. 18 and Sunday, Feb. 19, at the UltraStar Multi-tainment Center in the City of Maricopa.

Selected from scores of entries, budding talent - including screenwriters, actors and filmmakers - will showcase their finest screen work beginning at noon on Saturday. Fifty-six short films covering a wide range of genres will play during the course of the weekend. The selected films, many well under 20 minutes, recognize talent not only in the City of Maricopa, but from across the U.S., Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Italy, Austria, Spain, France, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Papua New Guinea and China.

In addition to a variety of short film options to view, Copa Shorts Film Fest will hold two FREE educational filmmaking workshops on Saturday. Charging your Creative Spark (9 a.m. to 10 a.m.) will provide an insider's perspective for taking an idea to the big screen, and Film Scoring for Film Makers (10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.) will address the vital role that music plays in bringing a film to life.

At 4 p.m. on Sunday, attendees can experience a screenplay table read of four specially-selected scripts. (Each script is about 15 minutes long.) At 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, awards will be given to surprised screenwriters and filmmakers, while Smokestack Lightning, a blues band from the Gila River Indian Community, performs.

Who: Four screenwriters - from California, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Gilbert, Ariz. - will be in attendance. Five Arizona filmmakers - from Phoenix, Chandler, Maricopa, and Tucson - will be in attendance.

One of the many blocks of films will be from young, middle-school-aged student filmmakers. Another group of films will highlight talent from Native American filmmakers within the Ak-Chin community.

Saturday's lead-off film, a comedy titled Belly Flop, features a 13-year-old actress from the City of Maricopa.

When: Saturday, Feb. 18 to Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017

Saturday*9 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.: Filmmaker Education workshops

*Noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.: Film blocks

Sunday*Noon, 2 p.m.: Film blocks

4 p.m.: Screenplay Table Read of four specially-selected scripts

6 p.m.: Best of the Fest Films

8:30 p.m.: Wrap Party and Awards Ceremony (live music from Smokestack Lightning)

Guests can purchase single-screening tickets for $12 each. Students and those ages 65 and better can purchase single-screening tickets for $10 each. Saturday-only passes are $50 each, and Sunday-only passes are $65 each. VIP All-Access Passes are $130 each, and give priority seating, access to filmmakers, entry to the Film Fest's Wrap Party and Awards Ceremony, and a branded swag bag.